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Ziggy101's avatar
Ziggy101
Member
14 years ago

Advice welcome

Hi all. I have now been on tamoxifen for two weeks. I am finding that I have a weak bladder and am needing to wear a pad. Is this going to be a permanent ? Do others experience this? I have no pain and so do not think it is a uti or bladder infection. I was also finally diagnosed with cording yesterday as a result of lymph nods being removed In April last year. I am experiencing horrible pain . I was seen by physio at Peter Mac yesterday. She bas given me some exercises. Have any of you experienced this and have any tips for pain relief and increased arm movement ? Many thanks xx

4 Replies

  • I finished my treatment in October 2013. Started tamoxifen and had many side effects. I had vertigo, nausea, chronic uti, incontinence. I have never had any of these symptoms before taking tamoxifen. After multiple antis, my problems seems to have stopped. I was able today,  spend a couple of hours shopping without going to every toilet on every level. 

     

    Melanie

     

  • Hi had cords  too (ugly, like spiderwebs  that seemed to suddenly appear in the arm pits after 7 or 8 days post surgery ).  They were painful and I felt so ugly.  I then had a good regime of exercises prescibed by the hospital outpatients physio, one who specialised in lymphoedema management. . Initally, she asked my husband to help with the stretches, because I could not quite manouvre effectively.. So he copied her.  He put  dimethicone cream over the stiff corded bits and pressed and massaged firmly with his thumbs.  The cords settled completely after several months, but I could still feel where they were until recently.

    I found that stretching regularly several times every day (" twinkle twinkle little stars",  "angel wings") and swimming ( as soon as scars healed) a few times per week helped me, almost miracoulously, turn the corner and get my full movement back.  (I really thougth I miracle had hit me after a 3 sessions of laps  in the pool!) I even felt them 'pop' a few times.... Wierd, but nothing to worry about.   

    I especially like to stretch my arms up the wall when i am in the shower. I stretch my arms up in the air before I get out of bed.  I like to move every joint before I get up - shoulders to fingertips. Driving  and sitting around makes the stiffness worse.   In the car, I stretch my arm over the back of the other seat.  I do the same ot the movies... and avoid having someone sit on my 'surgery side', if possible.  I'm still prone to stiffening up, 18 months down the track, so i am still stretching, still swiming and I feel so much more in control of my body.

    I have heard that many Tai chi moves are also really good for  all joints. That migth suit you too.

    I'm not on Tamoxifen, but i am on Arimidex... so now I annoyed with stiffness everywhere else, not just my right arm.  So i think I'll be stretching for years!

     I hope this helps, Cheers, Fiona

  • I had cording and didnt know what it was. The breast nurse got me onto the exercises and it came good really quickly. Good luck with it.

     

  • I had cording and didnt know what it was. The breast nurse got me onto the exercises and it came good really quickly. Good luck with it.